Suspect Arrested for Recklessly Firing a Rifle in a North Spokane County Mobile Home Park
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested a male who fired a rifle into the air at a mobile home park located in the 40600 block of N. Newport Hwy. in North Spokane County. The suspect, who appeared intoxicated, was charged with Reckless Endangerment.
On April 2, 2019, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Deputies responded to reports of a male who fired a rifle or shotgun while he was outside his residence and standing next to another mobile home. The reporting persons were unable to advise what the suspect shot at or if anyone was injured.
Deputies arriving at the location began to ensure no one was injured and attempted to contact the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Job A. Gustafson, who reportedly went back inside his residence.
Several minutes later, Gustafson emerged from the residence. Gustafson was initially hesitant and argumentative, but Deputies continued to talk with him and tried to deescalate the situation while attempting to determine if he was armed.
Eventually, Gustafson was coaxed into complying with the Deputies, and he was safely taken into custody. Gustafson appeared intoxicated as he spoke with Deputies. He was confused and didn’t know why he was being contacted. When asked about shooting a weapon, Gustafson said he fired a .22 rifle into the air toward a gravel pit which could not be seen from his residence. He explained the gravel pit is “usually empty”. Gustafson’s story changed several times as he explained why he had fired a weapon.
Deputies noted, in the direction Gustafson said he shot into the air, they observed approximately six mobile homes. They recovered a 30-30 rifle from the residence and found one spent casing and three unfired rounds in the rifle.
Gustafson was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Reckless Endangerment where he is still being held with bond set at $1,000.